April 22, 2026 Earth Day updates

While the Cebu Coalition of CSOs will not have one common event this April 22, 2026 Earth Day, we are happy to share that several events have been planned/lined up by certain partners before, during, immediately after this year’s Earth Day.

Today, in coordination with Rey Balatayo of the Couples for Christ, Pagtambayayong and RCE-Cebu will join about 40 participants from various parts of Cebu Province, including those from Cebu City.

Pagtambayayong will discuss about Laudato Si and the Takakura method, while RCE Cebu will discuss about how effective segregation, management of various waste types (individual/household/barangay food/kitchen-waste composting, plastic ecobricking and paper uling production, others) can help contribute to solve continuing crises of hunger, poverty, unemployment, global warming, and, the recent global/local impact of the Middle East crisis.

Yesterday morning, Ms. Mary Rose Villacastin Maghuyop of Our Lady of Joy Learning Center, Jugan Road, Consolacion, Cebu, shared an inspiring communication about their Earth Day planned events.

For nearly two decades now, Mary Rose and her students have always inspired us with their dedication and commitment to take care of our earth through very simple acts like drawing and writing simple sketches, short letters about Mother Earth.

Mary Rose shared these recent updates about their Earth Day celebration.

Together with partners (Sir Rodrigo of the Agriculture Department and Sir Edward of the fisherfolk Bantay Dagat), they plan to do the following: “1.) Coastal cleanup first then, 2.) Vegetable planting in containers - the mangrove areas that are easily accessible are already crowded with growing mangroves so they have paused the planting.”

They are going to adjust to the April 25 Saturday schedule as requested by their other partner Childlink HS Z Club from Cebu City. Partner Zonta Club of Cebu II will again sponsor their painit.

They will start at 6 A.M. “so it’s not too hot for the cleanup. We pause for pamainit, then have the planting.

“A focal person will explain and demonstrate how to plant different kinds of vegetables (the AGRI Department will provide the seeds) and then have students do the same; they can bring the plants home - this is aligned with the government’s thrust on SDG2 Zero Hunger, and the project of container gardening for food security.

“The site is what will be the Eco-Park of Consolacion (it’s a work in progress) which is in an interior part of Tayud, Consolacion.”

Mary Rose explained that their school has been doing their annual celebration of Earth Month, with the LGU as partner, since 2017.

She also shared that for the past two years, Childlink and Zonta have joined them for the annual Earth Day Celebration!

Their school, Our Lady of Joy Learning Center, continues to be “A.L.I.V.E., supporting the arts, leadership, intelligences, values and environment!”

On Earth Day itself, April 22, their school will do an online information campaign, including posting and sharing of pubmats about their school activities related to sustainable development goals made by their students!

The biggest surprise and joy that Mary Rose’s communication brought yesterday was the information that their school and students have continued to produce plastic pillows and paper uling “for more than five years now po so we can lessen the garbage we throw.

“We give them to anyone interested and we used (the paper charcoal) for the canteen for a time. The canteen now uses a burner running on used cooking oil so we don’t throw away oil.

“Small (but sustained) efforts ra man gud, we really didn’t think they’re good enough for recognition but we got a pleasant surprise when we got recognition from our LGU last October. Apparently, we’re the only school here that has consistently been doing eco- projects and partnering with LGU!”

Mary Rose, salamat! Padayon to inspire, continue nurturing young minds from preschool to high school, to love/protect our earth!